Another musical legend has come to an untimely end. It has been reported that the last song Chris Cornell played on stage last night was “In My Time of Dying“, a Led Zeppelin cover of a traditional gospel song. Or, at least, it was incorporated into the set closer. Dear gawd, please don’t tell us he hung himself. Foul play or not, the world lost a piece of its soul yesterday. If despair be the killer, may we bring more light and warmth to this ofttimes cold and dark world. If big pharma is to blame, may the truth come to light, so nobody else suffers the same fate.

Condolences go out to the Cornell family.

UPDATE—[19 MAY 2017] It has been reported today, by the Associated Press, Detroit Free Press, Slacker Radio, and other sources, that the Cornell family is disputing the medical examiner’s conclusion that Chris Cornell took his own life. From the outset, there were mixed reports in the press. Some sources reported that Chris Cornell was found with a belt around his neck, while others reported that he was found with a “band” around his neck. But it was questionable that authorities seemed to have come to such an open-and-shut case of “suicide by hanging” so soon when no toxicology reports had yet been made. Cornell’s wife, Vicky Cornell, has now reported that Chris Cornell had a prescription for Ativan, an anti-anxiety medication, and had told her in a phone call after the Detroit concert that he may have taken “an extra Ativan or two” and was experiencing slurred speech. The most salient point about this revelation is that Ativan is known for having adverse side-effects, including suicidality. If Chris Cornell’s death can be linked somehow to Ativan, it would seem the prescription drug company would be held liable. [1]

WIKIPEDIA—[accessed 18 MAY 2017] Chris Cornell (born Christopher John Boyle; July 20, 1964 – May 17, 2017) was an American musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter and rhythm guitarist for Seattle rock band Soundgarden and as lead vocalist and songwriter for the group Audioslave. He was also known for his numerous solo works and soundtrack contributions since 1991, and as founder and frontman for Temple of the Dog, the one-off tribute band dedicated to his late friend Andrew Wood.

Rocker Chris Cornell, frontman for Soundgarden and Audioslave, died following a sold out show at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.

A police source talking to WWJ Newsradio 950 Thursday morning said the 52-year-old singer-songwriter was found in the bathroom of his room at the MGM Grand Detroit hotel, after apparently taking his own life.

An autopsy by the Wayne County Medical Examiner later determined Cornell committed suicide by hanging.

According to a source familiar with the investigation, Cornell went back to his room at the MGM after the Soundgarden show; and, shortly after midnight, his wife called a band member and asked if he would check on Cornell. The band member, along with MGM security, broke into the locked room and found Cornell dead with a belt around his neck.

Detroit police spokesman Micheal Woody would not confirm any details, but said “basic things” discovered at the scene led investigators immediately to suspect suicide.

NPR—[18 MAY 2017] Death of Chris Cornell, Powerhouse Voice of Soundgarden, Ruled a Suicide

Doreen McCallister and Colin Dwyer

Updated at 2:25 p.m. ET

Chris Cornell, the unmistakable voice and frontman of the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, died overnight in Detroit at the age of 52. He was discovered just past midnight at the MGM Grand Detroit, according to police.

The office of the Wayne County Medical Examiner on Thursday determined the cause of his death to be suicide by hanging, noting that a full autopsy has yet to be completed.

“His wife Vicky and family were shocked to learn of his sudden and unexpected passing, and they will be working closely with the medical examiner to determine the cause,” Brian Bumbery, Cornell’s representative, says in a statement. “They would like to thank his fans for their continuous love and loyalty and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”

Chris Cornell, the powerful, dynamic singer whose band Soundgarden was one of the architects of grunge music, died on Wednesday night in Detroit after the band had earlier performed there. He was 52.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office said the death was a suicide by hanging. It said a full autopsy had not yet been completed.

Soundgarden played at the Fox Theater in Detroit on Wednesday night, and it had been scheduled to perform in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday at the Rock on the Range festival.

Dontae Freeman, a spokesman for the Detroit Police Department, said in an interview that officers went to the MGM Grand hotel and casino around midnight in response to a call about an apparent suicide of a white man, whom he did not identify. Mr. Freeman said the man’s date of birth was July 20, 1964, which is Mr. Cornell’s.

Ashley Zlatopolsky

Last night just seemed like another Soundgarden show — my fifth time seeing the iconic grunge band live, and second time in Detroit. It’s hard to pass up a good rock show at downtown Detroit’s Fox Theatre, one of the city’s architectural gems and a staple in its music history, its stage graced by the likes of Iggy Pop and Prince.

But when I woke up this morning, everything had changed. And the sold-out show suddenly took on a different meaning.

Chris Cornell, Soundgarden’s lead singer, was found dead in his hotel room at MGM Grand Detroit just hours after the group performed at the Fox, with a medical examiner now ruling his death a suicide.

Even without the benefit of hindsight from the morning’s awful news, it was clear that something wasn’t right with the 52-year-old Cornell during the Fox performance. He often staggered back-and-forth across the stage, and seemed weak in his movements. Just one or two songs in, it was as if the energy had exited his body, and what was left was a shell of a man scrambling to do his job.

The family of Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell is disputing “inferences that Chris knowingly and intentionally” killed himself.

The family said in a statement that without toxicology tests completed, they can’t be sure what led to his death, or if any substances were involved. According to lawyer Kirk Pasich, Cornell had a prescription for the anti-anxiety drug Ativan, which he said has various side effects.